Button-sewing machine.



G. S. GATCHELL.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPUCATION men JUNE 29,1912.

1 JAE-@ 372, Patented May 25, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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G. S. GATCHELL. BUTTON SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29.1912.

WITNESSES:

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHoTc-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. u. c.

arnn ent re.

GEORGE S. GATCHELL, 0F ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. GAToHELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Roselle Park, in the county of Union and tate of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- SewingMachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its object to adapt the button-feeding mechanismof buttonfastening machines to accommodate shankbuttons of a wide rangeof style, shape and size, and to prevent the breaking or marring ofbutton-heads made of brittle material, such as glass, vegetable ivoryand shell or covered with paint or other material easily marred in thehandling of the buttons.

In its preferred embodiment, the buttonfeeding device comprises a chuteformed with spaced side walls affording a buttonhead guideway and havingone of the walls provided with a longitudinal slot to produce abutton-shank guideway, the delivery end of the chute being directedtoward and at an inclination with the reciprocating needle of thefastening means and the work-support through which it passes, abovewhich latter is disposed the Presser-foot formed with the usualneedle-aperture and button-head and button-shank guideways in registerwith those of said chute and intersecting and crossing the11eeclleaperture. Adjacent its delivery end, the side wall of the chuteformed with the button-shank guideway is constructed with a laterallyswinging section composed of two spaced and independently pivoted partsyieldingly maintained in normal position by independent springs of whichone has its extremity extended within the button-shank slot beyond theend of the opposite comparatively rigid side wall to afford a yieldingstop-finger to check the advance of the foremost of a series of buttonswithin the chute.

The rigid wall of the chute terminates above but suihciently near thelevel of the stop-finger for the wall to engage the upper portion of thebutton-head so as to confine it within the lower end of the chute forsubsequent dislodgment by the button-pusher entering the button-shankguideway beneath the same and forcing the button through the guidewaysof the presser-foot and into contact with a button-shank stop upon thelatter in fastening position. The pusher is preferably provided with ayielding plate having one end secured thereto and provided in itsopposite end with a notch to embrace the button with its inner extremityengaging the button-shank for moving it into forcible engagement withthe stop of the presser-foot and holding it to the same during theinitial portion of a fastening operation. The button-shank engagingplate rests against the button-head guideway of the chute, which itslightly displaces laterally in its advance, and the correspondingrigidly sustained guideway of the presser-foot so as to accuratelyposition the button-shank to receive the fastening stitches. Theyielding buttonchute section is so positioned as to normally press thesmallest sized button-head lightly against the opposite wall of theguideway to insure against the buttons dropping out in the extremeretracted position of the pusher.

To prevent the marring of the button-head by a rubbing action of thepusher thereon, the latter receives in addition to its circularbutton-advancing movement, slight rising and falling movements, to causeit to move in an inclined path corresponding to that of the lower end ofthe button-head and button-shank guideways, and the notched yieldingplate of the pusher not only serves to shield the button-head fromfrictional contact with the guideway under the pressure of the pusher,but retains the button-shank in proper register with the fasteningmember, particularly when in fastening position wherein it is disposedin register with and crosswise of the needleaperture of thepresser-foot. The button-engaging member of the pusher is preferablypivotally mounted and spring-retained in normal position from which itis adapted to tilt downwardly during the rise and retrograde lateralmovement of the pusher near the end of a fastening operation so as toprevent the dislodgment of the button from the fabric still clamped uponthe work-support by the presser-foot.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear side elevation of abutton sewing machine embodying the present improvements with the partsin stopping position, and Fig. 1 a detail of the button-holding andwork-clamping parts in starting position, and with the presser-footlowered; Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is aperspective view, upon a larger scale, of the button-delivery andbutton-fastening devices. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the lower portionof the chute, the pusher and the presser-foot, representing ashankbutton held in fastening position. Fig. is a perspective view ofthe lower portion of the button-chute and Fig. 6 is a similar view ofthe pusher. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the, pivoted parts ofthe laterally swinging section of the button-chute. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the resser-foot, taken from the rearward side.

In general constructive features, the present mechanism is substantiallythe same as that disclosed in the pending applicationof William L.Barron, Serial No. 641,518, filed July 31, 1911. The machine isconstructed with a frame comprising the hollow standard 1 with thelateral work-supporting arm or horn 2 and the hollow overhanging arm 3in which latter isjournaled the main-shaft 4 carrying at its rearwardend the fast and loose pulleys 5 and 6 and at the forward end thetake-up cam-cylinder 7 provided with the crank-pin 8 connected by meansof the pitman 9 with the usual stud upon the collar. 10 fixed upon theneedle-bar 11 which carries theeye-pointed needle 12. The reciprocatingneedle-bar is journaled in the swinging frame 13 fulcrumed within thehead of the bracket-arm and provided with a lateral arm 14 operativelyconnected by suitable means including the link 15 with the groove 16 ofthe cam-cylinder l7 deriving step-by-step rotary movements from asuitable driving connection with the mainshaft 4.

Coiiperating with the needle 12 is the oscillating shuttle 18 journaledinthe race 19 and provided with the thread-case 20. The shuttle isactuated by means of the driver 21 at the forward end of the rock-shaft,22 mounted within the horn 2 and having at its rearward end the crank 23connected by means of the rocker 24 and pitman 25 with the actuatingcrank 26 of the'main-shaft.

Secured upon the outer end of the arm 2 is the throat-plate 27 formed atthe outer and forward extremity of its upper face with the projection 28upon the top and over the rearward edge of which the work is pressed bythe presser-foot, as represented in Fig. 3. p

Secured to the lower end of the presser-bar 29 by means of the screw 30is the shank 31' of the presser-foot 32 which is formed upon the bottomof its forward portion with a flat operative face 33 rearward of whichit is cut away beneath the shank to form the curved transversebutton-head guideway 34 with connected button-shank guideway 35 astop-shoulder 38 against which the button. is pressed by the pusher whenin fastening position, (Fig. 4.) The presser-bar is surrounded by theusual spring 39 interposed between a collar 40 fixed thereon and thelower end of the bushing 41.

Upon the boss 42 of the bracket-arm is secured the button-hopperf43formed with the delivery aperture 44. Depending from thehopper adjacentthe aperture 44 is the I bracket-piece 45 whose outer face constitutesthe. upper portion of the button-head guideway of the chute, and isprovided with the button shank guiding groove 46, the buttons being,confined to said guides in issuing from the hopper by means of thecapplate 47 sustained by the bracket-piece 45.

The body of the button-chute comprises the downwardly inclined bar 48whose rearward face affords one of the side walls of a button-headguideway continuous with'that of the member 45. It has therein alongitudinal slot or guideway 49 in register at its upper end with theslot 46 of the member 45 and at its lower end with the slightly flaringmouth of the button-shank guideway 35 of the presser-foot in itsoperative position (Fig. 1 The upper end of the bar 48 is secured to themember 45 by screws 50 only one of which is visible, and its lower endis suitably sustained by means of a bracket 51 depending from the headof'the overhang- I ing arm 3. Overlying and spaced from the operativeface of the bar 48 is the coverplate or bar 52 which is attached to theguiding bar 48 by means of the stud-screws 53 secured to the one andpassing through an aperture in the other, and is maintained seatedyieldingly upon an interposed spring 54 by means of the nut 55 appliedto said stud-screw.

As represented more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, the lower portion ofthe bar 48 is formed with transverse notches at opposite sides of theslot 49. In the lower notch is fitted the tongue 56 of the laterallyswinging member 57 fulcrumed therein by means of the pivotal pin 58, theupper edge of the der 59, alforded by the end of the receiving notch ofthe bar 48, by means of the flat spring 60 secured upon the bar 48 bymeans of the screw 61. In the notch of the bar 48 at the opposite sideof the slot 49 is pivotally secured by means of the pin 62 a tongue 63of the laterally swinging member 64 (Fig. 7) whose lower edge iscontinuous with the upper wall of the slot 49, and forms in conjunctionwith the adjacent edge of the member 57 an extension of the button-shankguideway 49. As represented particularly in Figs. 5 and 7, the member 64is formed in its upper side with a slot 65 for reception of the arm 66of a wire spring secured at one end by means of the screw 67 upon thebar 48 and having its opposite end inclined downwardly and across theextension of the button-shank slot 49 to serve as a stop-finger inchecking the advance of the foremost button within the chute. Thespringarm 66 is so formed and secured in position that it yieldinglymaintains the member 64 in norin al position relative to the fixedmember 48 of the chute. The members 57 and 64 constitute independentlyyielding parts of a laterally yielding lower section of the button-chutewhich is in practice so adjusted as to loosely confine therein thesmallest button-head which the machine is designed to accommodate, theyielding section being temporarily displaced in the conveyance of thebutton to attaching position by the pusher.

The button-feeding mechanism comprises the rock-shaft 68 journaled inthe head of the arm 3 and having fixed upon its lower end the collar 69provided with the lateral wing 7 O to which is Secured by means of thescrew 71 the slotted upper end of the depending rigid pusher-arm 72. Thearm 72 is formed at its lower end with the lateral projection 73 towhich is pivotally connected by means of the shouldered fulcrum-screw 74the extension 75 which is normally held with its upper face flush withthat of the projection7 3 by means of the spring 76 attached at one endto the extension 75 and at its opposite end to the arm 72 (Fig. 6). Inthe retracted position of the pusher, the top of the button-engagingmember 75 extends beneath the lower end of the button-chute member 52and supports the head of the button next above that sustained by thestopfinger within the path of movement of the forward end of the pusher.

The pusher member 75 has secured to its outer face by means of screws 77the rearward portion of the curved resilient plate 78 whose opposite endis forked to form a slot 79 adapted to loosely embrace the shank of abutton and whose inner end engages the latter in the operative movementof the pusher and carries it into forcible engagement with thestop-shoulder 38 of the presser-foot (Fig. 4). By straddling thebutton-shank the forked plate 78 is adapted to afford a shield formaintaining the but ton-head out of rubbing contact with the guideway 34of the presser-foot to bridge the needle-aperture 36 which intersectssuch guideway, and to prevent the button-shank from turning during itsmaintenance in forcible engagement with the stop-shoulder 38 and whileextending across the needleaperture. While the plate 78 is sufficientlyrigid to sustain the button-head when grasped by the pusher, itsresilience is such as to enable it to conform closely in its advancewith the button-head guideway 34 of the presser-foot so as to insureprecision in the presentation of the button to the fastening devices.

The pusher-arm 72 carries upon one side the fulcrum screw-stud 80disposed transversely of the rockshaft 68 and upon which is mounted theswinging lever 81 having at its lower end the lateral extension 82notched to embrace the button-engaging member 75 of the pusher-arm andhaving a lateral face 83 constituting a gripping jaw acting inconjunction with the plate 78 in holding the button-head in its movementfrom the end of the chute and maintenance in fastening position. Securedto the rearward edge of the arm 72 by the fastening screw 84 is the wirespring 85 whose free end bears upon the rearward edge of the lever 81and normally forces the same into gripping relation with thebutton-head.

The rock-shaft 68 has adjustably secured thereon by means of theclamp-screw 86 a split collar 87 formed with a lateral arm 88 to whichis pivotally connected one end of the thrust-rod 89 passing through anaperture in the lower end of the swinging lever 90 fulcrumed on thestud-screw 91 and car rying the stud 92 enteringthe cam-groove 93 of thecylinder 17 by means of which the lever 90 is periodically shifted uponits fulcrum-stud. The rod 89 has secured thereon by means of set-screws94 the thrust collar 95 held yieldingly in contact with the lever 90 bymeans of the spring 96 in terposed between the latter and the collar 97adjustably secured upon the rod 89. The rod 89 is thus caused to followthe swinging movements of the lever 90 in rocking the shaft 68 exceptingwhen the latter is abnormally obstructed, when the spring 96 is compressed and the connection between such parts is adapted to yield toprevent breakage or abnormal strain upon the parts.

The lever 81 is extended upwardly above the fulcrum-stud 80 and isprovided with a laterally projecting cam-arm 98 whose operative edge 99is normally disposed at a slight inclination to the direction ofcircular movement derived from the arm 72 of the rock-shaft 68. Fixed inand depending from the head of the overhanging arm 3 is the stud 100carrying an anti-friction roller "101 so disposed within the normalrange of movement of the cam-edge 99 that it forcibly engages-the samewhen the pusher is withdrawn from button-attaching position into extremeretracted position and thereby retracts the button-engaging jaw 83 to admit a button from the lower end of the collar 102 carrying the laterallyextending roller-stud 103 adapted for engagement with the uppercam-shaped edge 104 of the sta tionary segmental cam-plate 105 rigidlysecured upon the lower member of the bracketarm head by means of thescrewv 106. The rockshaft 68 is pressed downwardly to maintain the stud103 in contact with the cam-plate 105 by means of the surrounding spring107 interposed between the splitcollar 87 thereon and the bearing lug108 of the bracket-arm head.

In the retracted position of the pusher represented in Figs. 1 and 2,the roller-stud 103 rests upon the upper step of the camedge 10-1, andthe pusher is elevated to extreme position in which the top of thebutton-engaging member is adapted to just clear the lower end of the bar52 while the slot 79 of the holding plate 78 is in register with theshank of the lowermost button resting against the yielding stop-finger66. As the pusher advances for a feeding movement under the action ofthe cam 93 in turning the rock-shaft 68, the fork of the plate 7 8straddles the'button-shank and propels the button by engagement of theshank with the inner end of the slot 79. During the turning movement ofthe rock-shaft 68, the rollerstud 103 rides down the inclined portion ofthe cam-plate 105 which permits the lowering of the rock-shaft and itsattached pusher under the action of the spring 107, the camedge 101being so shaped as to cause the path of movement of the pusher toclosely follow the inclination of the button-guiding parts of the chuteand presser-foot.

In the use of the machine as thus de scribed, the fabric m is interposedbetween the presser-foot and throat-plate and the stop lever shiftedinto running position, therebyv releasing the presser-foot andpermitting it to descend upon the work. After the formation of one ormore anchoring stitches, the feeder or pusher advances andsimultaneously descends, carrying with it a button 5 whose shank bisembraced by the fork of the holding plate 78, the buttonshank traversingthe guiding groove 35 therefor in the presser-foot and being thrust intoforcible contact with the stop-shoulder 38 where it is held by theaction of the spring 96 without pressure upon the buttonhead exceptingthat imposed by the lever 81 under the action of its light spring 85.Before the completion of the button-fastening operation, and after oneor more fastening stitches s have been applied, the pusher performs itsretrograde movement under the simultaneous and independent actions ofthe cam members 93 and 104. In its rising movement the pusher has atendency-to lift the button now attached to the fabric, and I would thusbe liable to injure the fastening were it. not for the pivotal mountingof the pusher member 75 which is adapted to yield in opposition to itsspring 76 to temporarily assume an inclination proportionate to the riseof the pusher shaft relatively to the work-support until the holdingplate 79 is wholly disengaged from'the button-shank when the member 75reassumes its normal relation with the pusher member 73 under the actionof the spring 76.

It will be observed that, although the buttons are sustained by thepusher in their travel between. the lower end of the chute and attachingposition, the button guideway is continuous between the point at whichthe pusher engages the buttons and that at which they are secured to thefabric, this portion of the guideway, comprising in the presentrelatively to the needle. 'By making the.

wall of the chute containing the buttonshank slot in a yielding sectionwith two separate and independently movable parts, the lower end of thechute is adapted tobe normally contracted to such an extent as toaccommodate the smallest or most deformed button-heads which the machineis designed to take, the yielding section being adapted to readilyrecede to accommodate buttons of normal size or those having largerheads, any variations in size or shape of the button-heads of a chargeplaced in the hopper not being effective in clogging or disarranging thefeeding device and the holding of the button to receive the fasteningstitches,

It is evident that changes in shape, arrangement and specificconstruction of the component parts of the present improvement may bemade without departure from the scope of the present invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis 1. The combination with button-fastening means including areciprocating needle, of a buttonfeeding device comprising a guidewayinclined to the needle-path and leading toward the needle and intofastening position, and a button-propelling member movable in a pathsubstantially corresponding in inclination with said guideway andadapted to propel buttons along said guideway to said fastening meansand to sustain said buttons during the fastening thereof.

2. The combination with button-fastening means, including areciprocating needle, of a button feeding device comprising a guidewayinclined to the needle-path and leading toward the needle, a buttonpropelling member, a support for said member, actuating means for saidmember, and means independent of said guideway and actuating means andadapted to act upon said support to guide the button propelling memberin a path corresponding in inclination with said guideway.

3. The combination with button-fastening means including a reciprocatingfastening member, of a button-feeding device comprising a guidewayinclined to the path of movement of said fastening member and leadingtoward the latter, a button-propelling member adapted to propel thebuttons along said guideway to said fastening means, means for impartingto said button-propelling member feeding movements from a retractedposition toward said button-fastening means, and meansindependentthereof for imparting simultaneously to said propellingmember movements substantially in the direction of reciprocation of saidfastening member for production of a resultant movement correspondingwith the inclination of said guideway.

4. The combination with button-fastening means includingv abutton-fastening mem ber, of a button-feeding device comprising aguideway inclined to the path of movement of said fastening member andleading toward the latter, a rock-shaft substantially parallel with thepath of reciprocation, of said fastening member, a button-pusher carriedby said shaft, means for oscillating the rock-shaft, and means forimparting endwise movements to the rock-shaft.

5. The combination with button-fastening means including abutton-fastening mem ber, of a button-feeding device comprising aguideway inclined to the path of movement of said fastening member andleading toward the latter, a rock-shaft substantially parallel with thepath of reciprocation of said fastening member, a button-pusher carriedby said shaft, a lateral stud carried by said rock-shaft, means foroscillating the rock-shaft, and a stationary cam engaging said stud andadapted to impart to the rockshaft endwise movements simultaneously withits oscillatory movements.

6. The combination with button-fastening means including a reciprocatingneedle, of a buttonchute, a button-holding member formed with aneedle-aperture, a buttonhead guideway and a button-shank guidewaytransverse to and in intersecting relation with said needle-aperture anddisposed in register with said buttoncl1ute, a buttonpusher adapted topropel the buttons along said guideway to fastening position, and meanscarried by said pusher for preventing the turning of the button-shankwithin the needle-aperture during the fastening operation.

7. The combination with button-fastening means including a reciprocatingneedle, of a presser-foot formed with a needle-aperture and button-headand button-shank guideways intersecting said aperture, a buttonpusherfor propelling the buttons along said guideways into fastening position,and a yielding plate carried by said pusher and adapted to rest incontact with the button head guideway to support the button-head inconjunction with the latter when in fastening position.

8. The combination with button-fastening means including a reciprocatingneedle, of a presser-foot formed witha needle-aperture and button-headand buttonshank guideways intersecting said aperture and provided with abutton-shank stop, a buttonpusher for propelling the buttons along saidguideways into fastening position, and a yielding plate secured at oneend to said pusher and having at its opposite end a notch to embrace thebutton-shank and having an extremity for engaging said buttonshank andmaintaining the same in contact with said stop.

9. The combination with button-fastening means, of a work support, abutton guideway leading to button-fastening position above said support,and a button-pusher comprising a reciprocating carrier with abutton-engaging member pivotally mounted thereon and provided with anelement engaging the button-shank, said button-pushing member beingyieldingly maintained in normal position upon said carrier by means of aspring but adapted to yield toward said support in the withdrawal of thepusher after an initial portion of the fastening operation has beenperformed.

10. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with the fasteningmeans, of a button-chute formed with button-head and button-shankguideways and having at its delivery end one rigid side wall and anopposite *laterally yielding side wall provided with a into operativerelation with the button-fastening means.

11. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with the fasteningmeans, of a button-chute formed with button-head and button-shankguideways and having one rigid side-wall and an opposed yielding sidewall afforded by alaterally swinging section composed of twoindependently pivoted parts yieldingly maintained in normal position byindependent springs, and a button-pusher adapted to engage and propelthe buttons along said guideways into operative relation with thebutton-fastening means.

12. In a button-fastening machine, the

combination with the fastening means, of a walls being rigid and theother-being afforded by a laterally swinging section composed of twoindependently pivoted parts yieldingly maintained in normal position byindepend- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ent springs, ofwhich one has its extremity extended Within the button-shank guide- Wayintermediate said pivoted parts to afford a yielding stop-finger tocheck the advance of the foremost button within the chute, and abutton-pusher adapted to engage and propel the buttons along saidguideways into operative relation with the button-fastening means.

13. The combination With button-fastening means and a Work-support, of arockshaft disposed in angular relation with said support, abutton-feeding member carried by said rock-shaft, means for turning saidrock-shaft to impart feeding movements to said member, and means forimparting to said rock-shaft endwise movements toward and from saidwork-support.

In testimony whereof, I have signed 111 name to this specification,inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

D. QBURNIE, H. J MILLER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of lat ents, Washington,D. G." r 1 GEORGE s. GATOHELL. I

